Valance assembly support



Aug 7, 1951 J. R. METZ ETAL VALANCE ASSEMBLY SUPPORT Filed June 2, 1950 i NN ldmm Patented Aug. 7, 1951 2,563,734 VALANCE ASSEMBLY SUPPORT John R. Metz and Elizabeth R. Metz,

Syracuse, N. Y.

Application June 2, 1950, Serial No. 165,752

l manner that the visible portion of the framing or trim will not be marred or defaced in any Way.

A further object is to provide a valance assembly which may be readily attached to, or detached from, the wood framing or trim of the `window by the ordinary home owner, and that l does not require the services of expensive skilled workmen.

A still further object is to provide means for mounting the valance assembly in such a manner that the end portions of the assembly overlie the plaster, the plaster board or the like of the wall without requiring that the assembly be attached to the wall, such attachment of a weighty article, such as the usual valance assembly, with or without associated curtains or drapes, being often impossible, but at all times a very tedious and unsatisfactory operation.

Another object is to provide a means for mounting the valance assembly in such a manner that the end portions of the assembly may be laterally extended past the Sides of the window framing or trim, whereby the ordinary window may be given l the dimensional appearance of a picture window,

and at the same time permitting more light to come through the window by virtue of the increased space between the curtains, drapes, or the like, which are supported by this valance assembly.

Another object is to provide means carried by the Valance support for supporting curtain rods, drape rods, or the like, or combinations of the rods aforesaid in a vertically adjustable manner, whereby the various width hems of the curtains,

drapes or the like being supported may be posi-l tioned in such a maner that the entire top hem is located behind, and above the lower edge of, the valance, rendering the same invisible.

Still another object is to provide a valance assembly which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, strong, durable, and easily assembled and mounted.

Other features, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the following detailed description, and the novel features thereof defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view of my improved valance assembly in iront elevation, having one end broken away, and parts shown in cross section to more clearly show the details, the assembly Shown lbeing in applied position on a wood-framed window;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, exploded View, in perspective, of one end of the valance assembly; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary exploded View, in perspective, of the telescopic supporting member.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several gures of the drawing, wherein F generally denotes the ordinary wood framing or trim of a conventional window. This framing, or trim comprises vertically disposed, flat side members S, and a horizontally disposed, flat top portion T, these top and side members being of any desired thickness.

A telescopic rod or bar generally denoted at l, of a Width less than the thickness of the Window framing or trim, is attached to the top edge of the member T by means of one or more nails, or wood screws 2. The telescopic rod aforesaid comprises a female channel member 3, and a male vchannel member 4 slidable therein, these channel members being suitably formed of sheet metal, and having their side edges 5 turned inwardly, at an angle greater than to form a dovetail joint, as exemplified in Figure 4.

It must be understood, that this specific form oi telescopic rod l is Shown for illustrative purposes, and that the rod, rather than being of channel section, may take some other form, without detracting from the spirit of this invention.

The channel members 3 and 4 have a combined length, substantially greater than the width of the ordinary window framing F, and are adapted to extend laterally, for some distance, more or less, past each side edge of the framing or trim.

The top flat portions 6 of the channel members assayed.

3 are provided with correspondingly equidistantly spaced holes l adapted to be brought selectively into registration with each other when the rod is extended, or retracted, as apparent.

When the telescopic rod I has been extended and the holes l in the channel members brought into vertical registration With each other, the rod may be attached to the top edge 8 of the framing member T, by passing the nails or screws 2 through the holes into the top horizontal edge 8 of the window framing or trim. Y

' Obviously, if the window to Which this telescopic rod is to be attached is of a width greater than the length of said rod, the rod sections may be extended lto such a point that they are no longer telescopingly engaged, and each portion of the rod may then be secured at the proper position on the top horizontal face of the Wood framing or trim. Thus, it is apparent that this same telescopic rod may be applied to a 4window of any width without departing from the spirit of this invention, regardless of whether the male Vportion 3 'and the female portion 4 are telescopingly engaged or not.

Detachably mounted at the opposite ends of the rod, as by means of, screws 9, are flat L- shaped bracket members IIJ of a size to be received `in the open ends of the rod I. Holes II are Aprovided in the bracket members, said holes being positioned to cooperate with holes l2 in the opposite ends of the rod I to accommodate the fastening members 9. The portions of the L- shaped brackets that formv the toe of the L are preferably turned downwardly at a point flush with the ends of the ro'd I.

Rigidly mounted on the aforesaid toe portions of the L-shaped brackets, as by means of spot welding I3, arefiat metal plates I4. These flat plates I4 are secured to the brackets I0 in the region of the upper inner corners of the plates, as best shown in Figure 3, and at right angles to wall W.

Vertically disposed flat plates I5, having one side thereof turned to form a flange I6 thereon,

are attached to the plates I4 by any suitable 45 'means as by spot welding or the like, as indicatedat I'I, said plates I5 being located in the region Vand/or drape rod brackets I9 of conventional form, as by means of screws 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Thus it will be readily apparent that, by means `ofthe screws 9, the end plates I4 may be quickly and simply attachable to, and detachable from, the telescopic rod I, with the plates I5 mounted at right angles to the end plates I4, and providingmeans for mounting curtain and/or drape Y rods in a manner affording vertical adjustability, which is an important feature of this invention,

as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To be used in combination with the drape Yand/ or curtain supporting means described, there is provided a valance, generally denoted at V,

ysaid valance being preferably composed of three parts, namely, two end portions V', and a central v portion V2, the end portions being adapted to be telescopingly slidable in the central portion.

These components of the telescopic valance V are preferably made of sheet metal or the like, and have their longitudinal marginal edges turned inwardly as at 2|, in such a manner that the end members V are snugly slidable into the central portion V2. The inwardly turned edges of the members V and the member V2 are turned more than 90, whereby disconnection of the parts is avoided, except by a longitudinal telescoping movement.

The outer end of each of the valance members V is turned inwardly at right angles to form a support-engaging member 22.

The distance defined by the inwardly turned edges 2l of the members 22 is such that it may be pushed onto the plate I4 hereinbefore described, but with a sufficiently tight fit to avoid any relative sag between the two parts.

Thus it is apparent that a telescopic valance supporting'means, and a telescopic valance to be 'supported thereon, have been provided.

It is still further apparent that the telescopic rod I, together 'with the endV plates I4 carried thereby, may be extended to suchan extent as may be necessary to suit various sizes of windows,

and when the holes 'I are brought into registratached to the brackets I9 which are carried byV the plates I5, and the valance V extended to the required length and positioned'on the plates I4 as hereinbefore described.

By virtue of the holes I8 in the plates I5, it is possible to vertically adjust the brackets i9, whereby the hem generally found at the top of the curtains and/ or drapes may be raised or lowered to a point -of lconcealment behind the valance V.

A valance assembly has thus been produced which is exceptionally simple in construction, and easily mounted, and dismantled, without Ymarring or defacing the wood framing ,or trim, as at no time is it necessary to put any nails or screws in the visible portion of said framing or trim, but only -in the invisible horizontal top edge thereof. This is particularly important today, since home occupants frequently move from place to place and the present invention more readily admits of removal and 4re-installation of the valance assembly as lthe circumstances may require. Y

If a wood or other more artistically shaped valance is preferred to the hereinbefore described telescopic metal valance V, holes'z23 have been provided in the plate I4, near the upper outer corners thereof, as 'shown inA Figure 3, for convenient attachment of such other Valances. These holes make it possible to easily andY quickly mount a wood valance-between the end plates by driving nails or screws through .the holes -23-into Vthe edges of the wood valance at theopposite ends thereof.

Obviously, the advantages ascribed to the relatively narrow extensible rod member having vertically directed fastener receiving holes therethrough for mounting the same on'the top horizontal edge of a window framing member, 4may be availed of in using this invention as a fixture for supporting curtain or drape rods and the like, alone, without necessitating the mounting of supporting fixtures on the face of the window frame or on the wall itself, when-a valance s Y is not desired.

While the specific details of the preferred embodiment of this invention have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto, as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims. `.W e;claim: .1f

1. A valance assembly of the class described, adapted to be mounted on the top edge of the framing of a conventional window, comprising extensible valance supporting'means adapted to support a valance at its opposite ends, and a valance Vdetachably supported by said valance supporting means.

2. A valance assembly as dened in claim 1, wherein the extensible valance supporting means comprises telescopic channel sections.

3. A valance assembly as dei-ined in claim 1, wherein the extensible valance supporting means comprises telescopic channel sections, said channel sections having a plurality of holes therein adapted to be moved into vertical registry with each other responsive to extension or retraction of said telscopic channel sections, whereby fastening means may be inserted therethrough and the valance supporting means secured to the top horizontal edge of the window framing.

4. A valance assembly as dened in claim 1, wherein valance supporting elements are detachably secured to the opposite ends of said extensible valance supporting means.

5. A valance assembly as dened in claim 1, wherein valance supporting elements are detachably secured to the opposite ends of said extensible valance supporting means, said valance supporting elements being in the form of dat plate members.

6. A valance assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the extensible valance supporting means has means at its opposite ends for mounting rod supporting members.

7. A valance assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein valance supporting elements are detachably secured to the opposite ends of said extensible valance supporting means, said valance supporting elements being in the form of flat plate members, the ilat plate members aforesaid having means attached thereto for supporting rod supporting members.

8. A valance assembly as dened in claim 1, wherein valance supporting elements are detachably secured to the opposite ends of said extensible valance supporting means, said valance supporting elements being in the form of flat plate members, said plate members having rod supporting members rigidly mounted thereon and disposed at right angles thereto.

9. A valance assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the extensible valance supporting means has means at its opposite ends for supporting rod-supporting members, said latter supporting means having a plurality of vertically spaced rows of holes therein for mounting said rodsupporting members and permitting selective vertical adjustment of the rod-supporting members.

10. In a valance assembly of the class described, the combination with a horizontally disposed window framing member located at the top of a window and having a normally invisible portion, of a valance supporting means attached to the normally invisible portion of the window framing member aforesaid and extended horizontally across the window to at least the extreme opposite ends of the horizontal framing 6: member, and a valance` Adetachably mounted thereon.

11.' In a valance assembly of the class described, the combination as defined in claim 10, wherein the valance supporting means comprises a telescopic rod of channel section. l

12. In a valance assembly of the class described, the combination as defined, in claim 10, wherein the valance supporting means comprises a telescopic rod having valance supporting elements mounted thereon at its opposite ends, said elements having the form of flat plates. 13. In a valance assembly of the class described, the combination as deii'ned in claim 10, wherein the valance supporting means comprises a telescopic rod having valance supporting elements detachably mounted thereon at its opposite ends, said valance supporting elements having the form of flat plates, and means for supporting curtain rod brackets and the like, mounted on said ilat plates.

14. In a valance assembly of the class described, adapted to be mounted on the top horizontal edge of a window framing member, the combination of an extensible rod, said rod having means at its opposite ends for supporting a valance, said means having a rod bracket supporting member mounted thereon, and an extensible valance removably mounted thereon.

l5. In a valance assembly of` the class described, adapted to be mounted on the top horizontal edge of a window framing member, the combination as dened in claim 14, wherein said extensible valance comprises a pair of' end members and a central member, said end members being telescopically interengageable with said central member, one end of each of the end members aforesaid being turned at right angles and being engageable with a slip-nt on the valance supporting means aforesaid.

16. In a valance assembly of the class described, adapted to be mounted on the top horizontal edge of a window framing member, the combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said extensible valance comprises a pair of' end members and a central member, said end members being telescopingly interengageable with said central member, said end and central members comprising flat members having their longitudinal marginal edges turned inwardly at an angle greater than 1'7. A valance support of the class described, adapted to be mounted on the top horizontal edge of a window framing member, comprising an extensible channel section rod having a plurality of fastener-receiving registering holes therethrough for mounting said rod on the window framing member aforesaid, flat plate members mounted at the opposite ends of said rod, said iiat plate members constituting means for removably supporting a valance, and a rod bracket supporting member carried by each flat plate member aforesaid, said rod bracket supporting member being provided with a plurality` of vertically aligned and laterally spaced rows of holes, the holes of said rows being in a staggered relationship to each other, whereby a rod bracket may be attached to the bracket supporting member and be vertically adjusted at will.

18. A valance support of the class described, adapted to be mounted on the top horizontal edge of a window framing member, comprising an extensible rod of channel section having a plurality of fastener-receiving registering -holesthrough the top at face thereof for mounting aidfrod oniith'e window framing aforesaid, said rod having vertically disposed at plate members mounted at .its opposite ends Vfor supporting a Valancepagsecond flat plateimouhted on'theinner face of each Tof the rstfmentioned at plates, and at right angles thereto, said .second flat vplate members Ycomprising*means .for supporting -rod brackets. Y

' .19.1A`xture of 'theclass described, comprising a relatively v.narrow Ylongitudinally extensible rod member, said Irod member `having vertically 'directed fastener-receiving holes therethrough for :fastening said rod member to vthe top horizontal edge tof a .Window :framingf member, and supporting -means; at. the opposite; `ends: of' said 'rod member.,

JormR. METZ, Y ELIZABETH vR. METZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordiin the file of this patent: Y

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,916,679 Marczukowski July 4, 1933 2,161,535 Schwarzenbach Y June 6, 1939 2,368,964 Bosansky k Feb. 6, 1945 

